The Best Strategy Game Of The Year, Every Year, For 20 Years

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As a seasoned gamer with decades worth of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the strategy games of the past two decades have been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride through time and space. Each year brought forth new challenges, innovations, and unforgettable experiences that shaped not only my gaming habits but also the genre itself.

Over the years, strategy games have been a favorite among gamers worldwide, and this article discusses the top strategy games from the past two decades. We’ll look at the games that not only sold well but also introduced groundbreaking gameplay concepts. From traditional turn-based strategies to real-time masterpieces, we’ll examine how these games have molded the genre and kept players hooked. Let’s take a walk down memory lane as we review popular strategy games by year, revealing trends, enduring franchises, and titles that continue to impact new releases in 2024 and beyond.

Absolutely, it’s important to clarify that my list will be based on my personal views, as I haven’t had the chance to play every game released over the past two decades. However, I’ll focus on games I’m confident are excellent, having played them myself.

2004 – Rome: Total War

1998 was an exceptional year for gaming, with the debut of iconic titles like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Half-Life 2, Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen, Halo 2, Need for Speed: Underground 2, and The Sims 2, as well as Gran Turismo 4. That same year also witnessed a remarkable collection of strategy games being unveiled: LOTR: Battle for Middle-Earth, Codename Panzers, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, and Zoo Tycoon 2. However, many of these franchises faded away within a couple of years. But, one exceptional studio, Creative Assembly, brought their Total War series to prominence with Rome: Total War. This groundbreaking game moved the series to a new engine and offered players an unprecedented combination of size, spectacle, and strategic complexity that had not been experienced before.

2005 – Civilization IV

2005 saw the release of several noteworthy games like God of War, Resident Evil 4, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Shadow of the Colossus, Battlefield 2, and Psychonauts, making it a remarkable year in gaming. However, one game truly shone among the top-rated titles – Civilization IV. For me, Civ IV remains my favorite from the series because it was the last installment that enabled players to construct real armies, rather than filling maps with numerous units.

2006 – Company of Heroes

2005 marked the debut of the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and PS3, and some remarkable games were introduced alongside these consoles: The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, Gears of War, and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Among these, Company of Heroes, with a Metacritic score of 93, was the fourth-highest rated game of that year. Launched just as the World War II gaming trend was waning after dominating the industry for almost a decade, Company of Heroes stood out with its cover system, cinematic approach to World War II combat, and exceptional multiplayer features, quickly becoming an enduring classic and one of the best real-time strategy games ever created.

2007 – World In Conflict

2008 saw a significant decrease in notable strategy games for PC following the launch of Company of Heroes, as gamers were captivated by other hits such as Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Halo 3, Uncharted, God of War 2, and Assassin’s Creed. Notable mentions include the Opposing Fronts expansion for Company of Heroes, the questionably received Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, and Theatre of War, a wargame that has since been largely forgotten with subsequent underwhelming releases. The highlight of 2008 was World in Conflict, an engaging real-time strategy game set during the Cold War, which offered spectacle, scale, and an exceptional campaign that took players across Europe and defended the U.S. from a Soviet Invasion.

2008 – Sins of a Solar Empire

2008 marked the global dominance of the Nintendo Wii, with popular titles like Wii Sports, Mario Kart Wii, Wii Fit, Wii Play, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl selling over 75 million copies combined. Notably, this year saw minimal impact on the strategy gaming scene, with Tom Clancy’s End War and Red Alert 3 being released, but it was Sins of a Solar Empire that truly stood the test of time. Developed by Ironclad Games, this real-time strategy/4X title introduced us to the enduring factions of TEC, Vasari, and Advent, which have since become staples in our real-time strategy gaming world. The success of Sins of a Solar Empire was so immense that in 2024, a sequel, Sins of a Solar Empire 2, was released to widespread praise.

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2024-12-24 13:42